Ben Whishaw (Skyfall) will replace Colin Firth as the voice of Paddington Bear in the Weinstein Company’s Paddington, based on the popular children’s literature character. Firth departed the live-action/CGI-hybrid project in June. Producer David Heyman told the Daily Mail, which broke Thursday’s news, that Firth’s voice was “too mature” for the part; the film needed a slightly younger voice for the beloved bear who arrives in England from Peru. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, and Peter Capaldi will also lend their voices to the film. [The Wrap]

Christina Chong has been cast in Star Wars: Episode VII, joining Adam Driver, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, among others. Chong’s role is unknown at this time, but it is believed to be minor. The actress most recently appeared in Fox’s 24: Live Another Day. The Disney and Lucasfilm project is being directed by J.J. Abrams and is set to hit theaters December 18, 2015. [Variety]

Renée Elise Goldsberry has joined Universal’s comedy The Nest. She will play the role of Kim, an old friend of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey’s characters who host one final house party at their parents’ place. Goldsberry has a recurring role on The Good Wife as Assistant D.A. Geneva Pine, and recently appeared on The Following and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She’s expected to do a bit on the ongoing second season of Masters of Sex. [Deadline]

Glen Powell (Fast Food Nation, Best Friends Forever) has been cast in Universal’s Ride Along 2, teaming up with leads Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. Tim Story will direct. Cube and Matt Alvarez are producing for Cubevision along with Will Packer Productions’ Will Packer and Larry Brezner. Powell can next be seen in The Expendables 3, which arrives in theaters August 15. [Deadline]